Stanley,s History Notes

  Why Did the Jews Constantly Clash with Greeks and Romans, Despite Their Tolerance of Religions? Introduction: The Paradox It is one of the enduring paradoxes of ancient history. Both the Greek and Roman empires expanded in large part because they allowed conquered peoples to keep their local gods and traditions. Religious tolerance was a deliberate strategy: it reduced resistance, gave subject peoples dignity, and helped maintain stability. Yet with the Jews, the story was different. Again and again—from the Maccabean revolt to the Great Revolt against Rome—the Jewish people found themselves in religious conflict with these famously tolerant empires. Why? Greek Policy of Inclusion vs. Jewish Exclusivity Polytheism’s Open Door Greek religion was inclusive by nature. When Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, he visited the temple of Ammon and honored the god as his own. In the Hellenistic kingdoms that followed, foreign gods were absorbed into the Greek pantheon. For most sub...